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Crystal Dynamics Announces New Lara Croft Adventure

Today Crystal Dynamics announced a new Tomb Raider game to come in 2010 via digital download in 2010, titled "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light".

“This is a really exciting project for Crystal Dynamics, we have created something completely new and very different to what people might be expecting,” said Darrell Gallagher, General Manager of Crystal Dynamics. “Lara Croft is such an iconic character in videogames, with Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light we have created what we believe is a truly original digital experience.”

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will be shown strictly “behind closed doors” at this year’s Game Developers Conference beginning on March 9th.

First "Guardian of Light" Screenshots Shown

Just yesterday Crystal Dynamics surprised us with the news of a new game titled "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light". Today Gamespot released an exclusive preview showing the first screenshots. Follow the link below to the article.

Trailer - This Friday

The first Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light trailer will debut on gametrailers TV (short GTTV) this Friday. The trailer will also be available on the gametrailers website on the weekend and on Monday on Tomb Raider community websites.

First GoL Trailer

The first trailer for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light has been released. It shows a large temple complex just waiting to be explored. We see Lara using the grapple, jumping, fighting, running, evading traps and working with her partner to solve riddles. The trailer again confirms everything we knew: that the game can be played in single or co-op mode, and that it will be available for PC (via Steam), PS3 (via the PlayStation Network store) and Xbox 360 (via Xbox Live marketplace).

Possible Retail Price Revealed

In an interview with Eurogamer Karl Stewart of Crystal Dynamics revealed further details. The most important one being the retail price of around 10 Pounds/1200 MS Points they are aiming for with The Guardian of Light. He further revealed that the game will be ready for a release in July/August and that the exact date will depend on Microsoft and Sony. A simultaneous release for all three platforms (PS3, Xbox 360 and PC) is planned. Once again it was stressed, that the development of The Guardian of Light is independent from Tomb Raider 9. Depending on how the new game does, a sequel may follow or elements may be incorporated in future developments.

In a further news article on IGN it is stated that you collect points during the level by defeating enemies and collecting treasures. If the health bar runs out, you can respawn next to your partner, but it will cost quite a few points. These points will be posted to the leader board at the end of the level.

Official Website Updated

The official website for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light has been updated yesterday. You can choose between a UK and a US version. Flash is required.

The introduction video tells us the background story of the game and introduces Lara's new partner Totec and their rival Xolotl.

Quoted

According to Aztec myth, the region we call the Yucatan is an ancient battleground where the human followers of Totec, the Guardian of Light, once waged a catastrophic war against the demonic forces of Xolotl, the Keeper of Darkness.

It is written that Xolotl called upon the power of an artifact known as the Mirror of Smoke to summon forth a horde of unspeakable horrors from the Abyss.

Totec's warriors were slaughtered in the battle that followed, but Totec himself survived. He found a way to turn the Mirror's power back against the evil god. Xolotl was imprisoned within the mirror, and the descendants of Totec went on to forge a mighty empire that lasted until the arrival of the conquistadors.

As for what happened to the Mirror of Smoke, the ancient texts are vague. Some say it was hidden in a secret place, that the mirror was lost forever. But if there's one thing I've learned it's that nothing is lost forever.

Xbox 360 Release Date Confirmed

"Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light" will come out on August 18th via Xbox Live. A release date for PC and PS3 is not confirmed yet. Square Enix originally wanted to release the game for all platforms simultaneously.

PC and PS3 Version in September

In an interview with Eurogamer Karl Stewart revealed, that in order to get "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light" to be part of the "Summer of Arcade promotion", they had to make an exclusive deal with Microsoft, which demands that the game will be an Xbox exclusive for at least 4 weeks. The game comes to Xbox Live on August 18th, so PC and PS3 gamers unfortunately have to wait until September to get their hands on the game.

Quoted

Karl Stewart: We hope to have details in the next seven to 10 days. As with all arcade titles, irrespective of platform, you have to go through your submissions before they agree and approve a date. Unlike a disc-based title where we can pick our window, you have to go by what the first parties approve and give you a date, to make sure you're not coming out on the same day as five other titles. They like to manage the release window accordingly. We have requested a specific date and hopefully we'll get that and it's not too long after the 360 SKU.

Eurogamer: Is there a chance that the PC and PS3 versions will release on the same day as the Xbox 360 version?

Karl Stewart: No. The agreement with Microsoft is, in order to participate in their hugely successful Summer of Arcade promotion there is a window of exclusivity. That window of exclusivity is a set four weeks.

Xbox 360: Avatar Items and Premium Theme

It has been announced by Square Enix that Xbox users will be able to enjoy some exclusive "Guardian of Light" items for their avatars, as well as a premium theme, which has been released on the 12th of July. Images can be found in the Galleries. These images show the background of the premium theme, Lara and Totec in their signature clothes, a shaman costume, a headdress and a tshirt. The avatar items will be available on July 29th via the Xbox Live marketplace.

Quoted

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - July 23rd, 2010 - Crystal Dynamics®, a part of Square Enix Europe, is pleased to announce that Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light™ Premium Theme and Avatar items are now available on Xbox LIVE ® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

In Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Lara Croft joins forces with Totec, The Guardian of Light, in order to fight off an ancient evil threatening to engulf the world in never-ending darkness. Players will journey through the game in a franchise first isometric cooperative adventure that aims to deliver intense action and bite-sized puzzles.

You don’t have to wait until Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is released to get started! Head over to the Xbox LIVE Avatar Marketplace from July 29th, 2010 for your first chance to get Lara Croft gear for your Xbox LIVE Avatar in one of the many themed outfits and accessories from the game. Whether it’s Lara’s iconic shorts or Totec’s battledress, you can experience part of the brand new adventure early by equipping your Avatar with plenty of colorful and intricate new outfits and accessories! Items range from 40 Microsoft Points to 240 Microsoft Points.

A Premium Theme is also available now on Xbox LIVE. Deck your console out with The Lava Tomb as Xolotl and his minions take over your system in this haunting theme for your Xbox. The Lava Tomb is available for download now on Xbox LIVE for 240 Microsoft Points.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will launch on August 18th, 2010 as part of Xbox LIVE Arcade’s Summer of Arcade, delivering this season’s biggest and best downloadable games. Available for 1200 Microsoft Points, the game is rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

First Podcast Answers Community Questions

In a recently published audio podcast Forest Large, Producer for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light answers questions by the Tomb Raider community. You can find the podcast in our media archive. (Right click the source link to save it to your harddrive).

Kam of Crystal Dynamics Answers Community Questions

In a second interview, after the previously released podcast, Kam of Crystal Dynamics answers more fan questions. This time around the questions are focused on the changes on Lara herself, her character model, her outfits and so on. You can read the full length Q&A in the LCGoL section of the site.

Second GoL Podcast

Today the second podcast for "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light" was released. In it Alex Wilmer and Karl Gallagher talk about the sound creation and answer more questions asked by the community.

Quoted

Audio Engineers Alex Wilmer and Karl Gallagher talk all things audio in the latest podcast. Answering questions from the community and covering things like how they make a sound and what it’s like working with Keeley, this podcast gives an insight into the work that has gone into creating the sonic world of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. And there’s a slight twist, all the community questions that were sent in MP3 format have been run through the Xolotl-Machine™, making Lara fans sound like the evil baddie from LCGoL…. Sort of.

Third Podcast

The third podcast for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which came out for Xbox 360 last week, and will come out for PS3 and PC on September 28th, has been released. In it Lead Designer Jeff Wajcs, Daniel Neuburger and Alex Wilmer talk about concepts and level design.

PC and PS3 Demo at Gamespot

Gamespot offers a download code for the PC and PS3 demo of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light Demo. To secure your download code, you need to become a registered member of Gamespot.

Quoted

Sign up now to reserve your key for the Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light early access PS3™ Demo. Following the demo you will be given access to purchase Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light and play prior to the official release! Keys will be released on 9/21 at 10am PT.

Co-Op Patch and DLC 1

The Co-op Patch for the Xbox 360 version of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will be released on Wednesday October 27th 2010. Patches for PC and PS3 will follow shortly.
Further the first part of the Downloadable Content (DLC) for GoL is reported to be free.

Co-Op Patch and DLC 1 for Xbox 360 released

When entering the Xbox Live Marketplace you can now find the first downloadable content "All the Trappings - Challenge Pack 1" listed under "Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light". Best sort the content by release date to find it quickly. The content can be downloaded for free at the moment and contains four levels: Double Crossings, Tooth and Nail, Temple Defense and Crushing Expectations. Further more the online co-op patch has been released and will be installed when starting up the game, for those of you who intend to play the game online on their Xbox.

New DLC announced

Crystal Dynamics just announced the next downloadable content for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light via the Lara Croft Facebook Page. The gamers (you) can vote which "downloadable character pack" they'd like to see first. You can choose between "Kane & Lynch" or "Raziel & Kain". Cast your vote on the facebook page.

Quoted

More LCGoL DLC is coming! Which downloadable character pack for LCGoL should come first, Kane & Lynch or Raziel & Kain? YOU DECIDE, leave a comment here or tweet @CrystalDynamics

Challenge Pack 3

The "Challenge Pack 3" for Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light titled "A Hazardous Reunion" can now be downloaded from the PSN Store for £ 2.39 or the Xbox Marketplace for 400 points.
The download contains four new challenge maps.